Google Retires Experimental AI Health Feature Amid Search Simplification

Google has quietly discontinued its experimental AI-powered feature, 'What People Suggest,' which aggregated health advice sourced directly from anonymous users across various online platforms. The technology giant confirmed the discontinuation, framing the move as part of a broader simplification of its search results pages. This rationale sidesteps the intense scrutiny the feature generated over its reliance on unverified peer experiences for medical topics.

The function, introduced in March 2025 for US mobile users, was designed to present crowdsourced insights on conditions such as arthritis management, drawing data from forums like Reddit, Quora, and X. The removal underscores the persistent ethical quandaries surrounding the deployment of non-expert, unverified personal experiences within sophisticated AI systems addressing health concerns.

This action follows significant criticism directed at Google's broader AI Overviews, which, as of January 2026, had been found by investigations, notably by The Guardian, to be disseminating false and potentially dangerous medical guidance. Specific examples of prior misinformation included advising pancreatic cancer patients to avoid high-fat foods—a recommendation experts deemed incorrect—and providing misleading interpretations of liver blood test results lacking necessary contextual factors like age and sex.

Google's AI Overviews, which reach an estimated two billion people monthly, have been a focal point for concern, with charities noting that inaccurate information could cause users to delay critical treatment or follow harmful advice. While Google initially sought to mitigate fallout by stating the Overviews linked to reputable sources, the company subsequently restricted the feature for some medical queries following the January findings.

The now-defunct 'What People Suggest' tool was once promoted by then-Chief Health Officer Karen DeSalvo as demonstrating the potential of AI to transform health outcomes. Adding context to Google's evolving health technology strategy, the new Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Michael Howell, is scheduled to unveil forthcoming health initiatives at 'The Check Up' event on March 17, 2026. These announcements are expected to detail new research and partnerships, including a collaboration with CVS Health, as the company attempts to re-establish trust in its AI applications for sensitive areas.

The quiet nature of the discontinuation, with a spokesperson pointing to a November 2025 post by John Mueller, a search advocate at Google Switzerland, suggests an attempt to manage the narrative surrounding the feature's short lifespan. This episode highlights a critical tension for Alphabet Inc.: balancing the innovative promise of generative AI in democratizing information against the public risk associated with the proliferation of medical misinformation. The removal signals a temporary pullback from experimental health AI tools while the company addresses the fundamental challenge of ensuring accuracy and context in its AI-generated summaries.